Tourists have pro baseball's longest win streak

Asheville sweeps Lakewood for eighth and ninth straight wins

From staff reports

Published: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 8:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 8:57 p.m.

The Asheville Tourists extended the nation's longest winning streak to nine after sweeping a doubleheader against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Monday afternoon at McCormick Field. No team in all of professional baseball has an active winning streak that stretches as long as Asheville's.

The series continued its offensive trend in both games. Asheville led from start to finish in the opener, winning 11-6 in the seven-inning affair. The Tourists jumped out to a 5-0 lead after launching three home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Matt Wessinger led off with a homer while Derek Jones and Matt Argyropoulos hit back-to-back homers over the 42-foot scoreboard in right center.

In the second game, the Tourists fought back from a 6-1 deficit, outscoring the BlueClaws 9-2 over the next 5 1/2 innings. First-round draft pick David Dahl made his McCormick Field debut Monday and combined to go 2-for-7 in the two games. Dahl scored three runs and doubled in a run.

Asheville is now 15-9 and just a game back of South Division-leading Augusta. The Tourists take Tuesdady off and then start a seven-day road trip, beginning Wednesday in Hickory. They return to McCormick Field on May 9 to begin a seven-game homestand, beginning with Kannapolis.

<p>The Asheville Tourists extended the nation's longest winning streak to nine after sweeping a doubleheader against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Monday afternoon at McCormick Field. No team in all of professional baseball has an active winning streak that stretches as long as Asheville's.</p><p>The series continued its offensive trend in both games. Asheville led from start to finish in the opener, winning 11-6 in the seven-inning affair. The Tourists jumped out to a 5-0 lead after launching three home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Matt Wessinger led off with a homer while Derek Jones and Matt Argyropoulos hit back-to-back homers over the 42-foot scoreboard in right center.</p><p>In the second game, the Tourists fought back from a 6-1 deficit, outscoring the BlueClaws 9-2 over the next 5 1/2 innings. First-round draft pick David Dahl made his McCormick Field debut Monday and combined to go 2-for-7 in the two games. Dahl scored three runs and doubled in a run.</p><p>Asheville is now 15-9 and just a game back of South Division-leading Augusta. The Tourists take Tuesdady off and then start a seven-day road trip, beginning Wednesday in Hickory. They return to McCormick Field on May 9 to begin a seven-game homestand, beginning with Kannapolis.</p>